Invisible braces have long been known to correct the appearance of crooked or misaligned teeth – but in one case, a criminal may have avoided identification if he had received cosmetic treatment.

Sanele Mkhize, Thabiso Hadebe and Malusi Zulu are facing charges of attempted murder, armed robbery, pointing a firearm and discharging a firearm and ammunition, following an attempted hijacking in Chatsworth, South Africa, on January 14th 2010.

Six people were shot at or injured in the incident, including 12-year-old Altaf Ally, who is now paralysed after being shot in the head.

At the trial, a neighbour of the child and his family, Shaun Naidoo, looked at the teeth of three of the accused and identified two based on their distinctive dental features.

The news source reported that Mr Naidoo identified Mr Mkhize as the person who discharged the weapon, saying that his "overlapping front teeth and 'sickening smile' had jogged his memory".

Earlier this month, it was reported that a 53-year-old driver who crashed and abandoned a stolen car was tracked down when his false teeth were left at the scene – something which could have been avoided by having dental implants.
 

Teen singing sensation Justin Bieber has revealed that he has been wearing invisible braces in a bid to straighten out his smile.

The Baby hitmaker told Rolling Stone magazine that he has been having cosmetic dentistry treatment for the past year to ensure his teeth are flawless when he poses for photos.

He explained: "They (the teeth) were pointed inwards a little bit, so they had to bring them out, but when they did that, it made a small space in my teeth and now they have to push that in."

Bieber is one of a host of celebs to have had invisible braces fitted to straighten their teeth without having to resort to traditional metal varieties.

Myleene Klass recently completed her treatment after wearing the devices for several months.

Meanwhile, Dr David Alpan, who is an orthodontist in Las Vegas, said last month that invisible braces may not be as expensive as people expect.
 

Students at a US university are enjoying the benefits of Invisalign braces to treat slightly misaligned smiles.

According to the McGill Reporter, trainee dentists at McGill University have recently begun using the technology to straighten out teeth as an alternative to traditional metal varieties.

The patients wear clear plastic aligners which gently push the teeth back to the desired position and are taken out during meals. The patient changes aligners every two weeks, with each one having a slightly different shape to slowly apply more pressure.

Dr Jean-Marc Retrouvey from the faculty of dentistry said the student dentists seem to be enjoying using the Invisalign braces and the recipients certainly reap the benefits.

"It's a fairly delicate and complicated process, but the results we've seen have been impressive and the patients seem to like the aligners, more than metal braces anyway," he added.

Earlier this month, a woman in her fifties told Today Online that she decided to get Invisalign braces after seeing the excellent results her daughter achieved with them.
 

A woman in her fifties has spoken about how she decided to get Invisalign braces fitted after seeing the success her daughter had with them.

The patient, referred to only as Mrs Tay, told Today Online that she took the plunge because she had always been unsatisfied with her teeth, which jut out slightly.

"At first I thought of only whitening them but I thought why not just go the whole way," she commented.

Dr Cheng Eng Wah explained to the news provider that he now sees many people of Mrs Tay's age group than was the case five years ago, when most patients were in their teens.

However, he said they can have more than just aesthetic benefits.

"Properly aligned teeth have a lower risk of decay compared to 'overcrowded' teeth, as brushing and cleaning are easier with straight teeth," Dr Wah remarked.

Last month, Dr Aly Kanani from Vancouver recommended Invisalign braces for shy people who have been out off smiling and interacting with others due to a misaligned smile.
 

Having Invisalign braces fitted can make a big difference to the confidence levels of shy people, once dentist has said.

Dr Aly Kanani from Vancouver said she frequently sees patients who will not display their teeth when they smile and so become self-conscious.

"However, when they have completed treatment, they realise how different their smile is and they are proud to exhibit their teeth. I find it very rewarding," she commented.

Dr Kanani also said this is not a phenomenon only confined to children, as she treats a lot of adults who have also suffered with self-esteem problems as a result of misaligned teeth and who eventually come for Invisalign braces.

She concluded that positive changes in a person's smile can improve their entire attitude and their levels of success in life.

Last month, Dr Hamid Nassery from the Miami Beach Dental Institute told World News Report he also likes using Invisalign braces because of the effects they can have.

Lego could encourage people to have invisible braces fitted during February half-term.

Two life-size Lego heads are to go on display at the V&A Museum of Childhood in London between February 22nd and 28th 2011, Dentistry.co.uk reports.

Part of the British Orthodontic Society's second National Orthodontic Week, they will illustrate how mouths can be altered before being treated with orthodontics and afterwards.

A competition will also be held to guess the number of bricks each one took, while visitors will be able to meet an orthodontist to ask any questions they may have.

It is hoped that the initiative could encourage people who may have been putting off getting invisible braces for themselves or their children to change their minds.

In October 2010, a survey carried out by Disney voted Lego the nation's favourite toy to pass down to future generations, beating the teddy bear into second place and the Rubik's cube into third.
  

The benefits offered by Invisalign braces are making them appealing to adults who are unhappy with their smile.

This is according to orthodontist Alan Bagden, who told the Washington Post half of his patients are now adults, up from 40 per cent ten years ago.

He explained that the braces are almost imperceptible and much more comfortable than old-style metal varieties, meaning that people who may never have considered smile realignment are now doing so, including women aged 40 to 55.

"A segment of that age group are [mothers] of patients who have wanted orthodontics all their lives and once the kids are done decide to do it themselves," the expert added.

Mr Bagden highlighted how technology has changed, with realignment now plotted on a screen instead of being based around tightening elastic bands as far as they would go.

Dr Darren Dickson from Plano in Texas also recently lauded Invisalign braces, saying they prevent the need for extensive follow-up appointments.
 

Having invisible braces fitted could be a great investment for people who are currently unsatisfied with their teeth.

Dr David Alpan, who is an orthodontist in Las Vegas, explained that many families come in at this time of year to consider their options when it comes to realignment.

However, he urged anyone worried about the cost to consult with a professional, as invisible braces may not be as expensive as they expect.

"The total cost of braces depends on how complex the orthodontic problem may be," he pointed out.

Dr Alpan said invisible braces are sure to be worth the expense in the long run, as a "beautiful smile is one of the best investments".

In a recent article for Dentistry IQ, Dr Branka Starcevic said Invisalign braces are excellent and much less obvious than traditional metal varieties.

She recommended them for people who may have lost confidence in their smile.

Most women would want to look good if the announcement of their impending wedding was big news to the world's press – and it has been reported that royal bride Kate Middleton underwent teeth whitening ahead of her engagement to Prince William.

According to the Daily Mail, Kate visited royal orthodontist Dr Didier Fillion to get her teeth made dazzling for the all-important engagement photos.

The source said that invisible braces were used in the procedure, fitted around the back of Kate's teeth so that they would not be seen.

"Her gleaming new smile looks as though it was topped off with a course of teeth whitening to give that Hollywood sparkle," it added.

Kate is set to join a wax version of the Royal Family at London's Madame Tussauds. The new addition, complete with perfect teeth just like the real life Kate, will be in place by the end of this year.

Kate is due to wed Prince William at Westminster Abbey this April.
 

Patients with misaligned teeth have been told it's never too late to have cosmetic dentistry to straighten them.

Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith told Dentistry.co.uk that while it is best to have this work done during the teenage years, there are now lots of options available for adults too, including invisible braces.

Wearing a retainer for life may also help to prevent further movement in both people who have had cosmetic dentistry and those who already have a great smile, the expert said.

Finally, Dr Bradstock-Smith recommended using a mouth guard at night if you know you grind your teeth as you sleep, as this could prevent damage to the teeth and jaws.

Lon's Article Directory recently said that now could be the perfect time to get invisible braces, as they have shaken off their previous negative image to become almost trendy.

However, they will also provide a safe and natural way to move teeth into position, it added.